Bowl picks: Short-handed Auburn can’t wait to end season

The past clip Auburn took the field, the Tigers blew a precocious pb to Alabama and mislaid successful 4 overtimes successful the Iron Bowl.

At slightest Auburn fans won’t person to question acold to spot what should beryllium a overmuch inferior assemblage shot crippled against Houston successful Tuesday’s Birmingham Bowl — and perchance an embarrassing nonaccomplishment to participate the offseason connected a five-game losing streak.

Auburn backmost Bo Nix transferred to Oregon. Backup TJ Finley is nursing an ankle injury, but helium should play.

The Tigers besides volition beryllium without Roger McCreary, 1 of the champion screen corners successful the country; Zakoby McClain, their highest-graded antiaircraft subordinate against the run, according to Pro Football Focus; 3 violative linemen that started against Alabama; and violative coordinator Mike Bobo.

Houston’s champion antiaircraft player, cornerback Marcus Jones, besides volition beryllium out. Still, the Cougars’ defence is ninth successful expected points added per drawback and is beardown against the tally and the pass. Add successful an 11 a.m. section kickoff successful Alabama and the imaginable for immoderate wind, and the nether (51½) mightiness beryllium worthy a look, too.

But I’ll stake against an Auburn squad that can’t hold to get to the offseason. Take Houston +2½.

Four much plays:

Mississippi State (-9½) implicit Texas Tech: Mike Leach hasn’t been a large vessel crippled coach, going 6-10 ATS. But it’s nary concealed that Leach remains bitter astatine the mode his clip with the Red Raiders ended. Also, the Bulldogs finished the play 5-1 ATS. Quarterback Will Rogers mightiness decorativeness his vocation arsenic 1 of the champion to play successful the Leach system. He’s archetypal nationally successful completion percent and 2nd successful passing yards. Even without starting near tackle Charles Cross, Mississippi State is taking connected a Texas Tech squad successful Tuesday’s Liberty Bowl that ranks No. 122 successful sack complaint and is playing with its 3rd backmost of the season.

Maryland (-3½) implicit Virginia Tech: The Hokies are successful the mediate of a coaching transition. It has caused immoderate unit upheaval. The upshot: Virginia Tech mightiness beryllium without its apical 2 quarterbacks, apical 2 receivers, a starting violative lineman and 3 antiaircraft starters for Wednesday’s Pinstripe Bowl. Maryland had a brutal schedule, losing to Iowa, Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan State, Michigan and Minnesota. Perhaps the Terps aren’t getting capable marketplace respect.

Clemson (Pick) implicit Iowa State: The Tigers tract the No. 3 defense, according to SP+, and the No. 8 defence successful EPA per snap. Now Clemson faces a depleted Cyclones squad successful Wednesday’s Cheez-It Bowl that’s missing moving backmost Breece Hall, who accounted for 23 full touchdowns, and respective different starters. Clemson, connected a 4-1 ATS run, conscionable mislaid some coordinators and should beryllium anxious to amusement recruits that it’s inactive a apical program.

Tennessee (-5) implicit Purdue: The Boilermakers volition beryllium without receiver David Bell (93 catches for 1,286 yards) and antiaircraft extremity George Karlaftis (43 backmost pressures) successful Thursday’s Music City Bowl. The Vols fertile 19th successful the 247Sports squad endowment composite vs. 48th for Purdue. Losing their champion players connected some sides of the shot is simply a large interest for the Boilermakers. Especially against an discourtesy that features backmost Hendon Hooker, 3rd successful the state successful passer rating, and a accelerated tempo that Purdue isn’t utilized to seeing, particularly aft a agelong layoff.

Last week: 2-2

Season: 37-36-1

Christopher Smith of AL.com is providing assemblage shot investigation for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Follow @CFBlocksmith connected Twitter.